The anti-terror unit of the Delhi Police has taken a significant step in the investigation of the explosion near the historic Red Fort by registering a separate First Information Report (FIR) focused specifically on the conspiracy behind the attack. Officials announced this development on Saturday, marking a new phase in the probe.
Probing the Deeper Conspiracy
According to senior officers, the Special Cell will now intensively investigate the deeper conspiracy that led to the blast, including its detailed planning and execution. This move is intended to provide the unit with the legal authority to summon individuals for questioning specifically regarding the suspected conspiracy. A police source revealed that the main objective is to prevent such incidents in the future by thoroughly understanding the network and its intentions. The police are actively examining whether there was a plot for additional blasts or other terror activities in the national capital.
Background and Previous Legal Action
Prior to this, an initial case was registered at the Kotwali Police Station. This case invoked serious charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and various sections of the BNS for murder, attempt to murder, and conspiracy. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently took over the overall investigation into the blast after the case was transferred to them. The Delhi Police officer clarified that besides the conspiracy angle, the Special Cell will also assist the NIA in the broader probe related to the explosion itself.
This is not the first time the Special Cell has employed this strategy. The officer noted that in previous high-profile cases, such as those related to the Delhi riots and matters involving illegal migrants, the unit had successfully registered separate conspiracy FIRs to conduct comprehensive investigations.
Recent Developments and Suspects
In a significant breakthrough, DNA samples from Umar Nabi's mother, collected in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, were matched with the unidentified remains from the blast site, confirming his identity. The police suspect that Umar, who is believed to have been driving the white Hyundai i20 that exploded, was the leader of a white-collar group of doctors within a terror module. An officer stated that Umar is suspected of steering and motivating the other members of the group.
In a related development, the Special Cell has questioned two doctors from Al Falah University in Dhauj, Faridabad, who are believed to have been friends with Umar Nabi. The investigative net is widening, with the role of at least five other faculty members from the same university now under scrutiny. This module was reportedly busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police just hours before the Red Fort blast on Monday, which tragically killed 10 people. The J&K Police described it as an inter-state and transnational terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), leading to seven arrests.
In a separate judicial proceeding, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea and affirmed the trial court's conviction, holding the victim's dying declarations to be true and consistent.
